Tips of the Week

Maybe this is the year to prioritize your skin more? A couple of thoughts.

Use a sunscreen on your face, neck and chest every morning even if it's not sunny or you're usually inside. Why?... more

 Dear readers,

Some of you may want to honor a loved one by giving to a charity that means something to them personally. Here are some suggestions:

1) Camp Discovery - a camp for children... more

 Why is it tough to enjoy the holidays? Is it because we get over booked, tired, and over stimulated on all fronts?

Turns out the saying no at the right moments might be one of the best... more

For the friend going through a break up, planning a trip to the tropics, or just an athlete who sweats a lot at the gym - the best waterproof, tear proof, smear proof mascara ever - Urban... more

Products, in general, cannot repair moderately or severely sun damaged skin, deeper wrinkles or sagging. You will need lasers or other treatments, if you have those problems. Products are... more

People often ask me what I'm using on my skin. I change my regimen seasonally - using slightly different products for winter and summer.

My updated skin care product regimen is on the site... more

Now is the time to start thinking about ways to freshen skin for those holiday events. It's best to plan 4-8 weeks ahead so you don't have a bruise or peeling for the fun nights. If you... more

Latisse works well for eyebrows too. Use a tiny eyeliner brush (not the large clunky ones they enclose) and brush it on the areas you want more hair. Sometimes the hairs will grow longer... more

 I often hear patients confusing Botox and Fillers in their terminology and want to take this opportunity to set the record straight. There is a big difference between the two!

Botox (or... more

  It is easy to focus only on your face when considering anti-aging procedures and products, but don't forget to consider these other important areas of the body:

1. Hands - the hands are a... more

  Now that summer has come to an end, many of you may be thinking about using a tanning bed to keep your summer glow.  Consider using a self-tanner instead!

Melanoma is increasing faster... more

I'm hearing a lot of frustration about brown spots among my patients and SkinTour users. Why can't they just be easily removed???

Here's why - there are many different kinds of brown spots... more

As you know, most "new" products and devices are a triumph of marketing and hope over reality. We all want that magic wand that will make a huge difference and not cost!

Here's the link to... more

Some SkinTour visitors have commented, very understandably, that the anti-aging products I recommend are expensive. But antioxidant and anti-aging products (like cell growth factors) are... more

It turns out that fish oils that are high in the "good" fats (omega-3s) are beneficial for the heart, arteries, and skin as well. It's a good idea to take a fish oil supplement if you don't... more

I recently had a blog question about home use laser devices.  We are going to see more of these home ("laser-like") devices marketed over the next few years.   In my opinion, most of these... more

This is a good thing to consider if  a)  you have a lot of hair; b)  the hair grows noticeably down on the thighs; c)  you often get ingrown hairs and "shaving bumps;" or d)  are just are... more

Here are some good sunscreens that stay on well with sweating and won't sting your eyes - ColoreScience Sunforgettable SPF 30 (a powder in a gender neutral blue applicator), Vanicream... more

With all the humidity, swimming pools, etc, it's prime time for athlete's foot.

There are several forms - one the gunky stuff between the toes and also itchy, pinkish, scaley stuff on the... more

They are both sound-wave based systems. Ignore the marketing claims because they both offer modest facial skin tightening with best results usually in people under 60. They work equally... more

 I like to look for products, in general, that are environmentally friendly.  In other words, that contain mostly or all natural or organic ingredients.  Some skin care products categories... more

Many women's magazines seem to imply that the more exfoliation the better, so here's how to figure it out.  For your face, if you have oily, usually less sensitive skin (often acne prone),... more

We all need to cover our lips with sunscreen in the summer.  Most of the wrinkling, shrinkage, pre-cancers and skin cancers on lips are due to sun. 

We all like the Jack Black SPF 25 Lip... more

Finally!!! Some new rules on sunscreens that should be helpful. The biggest problem has been with assessing UVA coverage (important for everyone but really important for melasma). Companies... more

Self tanners can be a woman's best friend on the legs in summer. Also, consider some of the great leg makeups out there. I like the Lorac "Tantalizer" which has shimmer and doesn't come off... more

  You need to hurry though. They only make these once a year, and they go fast. Go to lululemon.com. They came in a light pink and a pretty gray this year. There's shirring in the front and... more

  I did a tip several months ago on shaving.  Apparently, my tip to men to buy two shavers and use them on alternate days went viral!  Who knew?

But my male patients do complain about... more

  As the June wedding season approaches, don't forget that microdermabrasion or light peels can be useful to refresh your skin for that important day. These treatments clean out pores and... more

If you're already sun damaged, be very careful this summer not to do more. Think about fun "surfer" rash guards to protect your torso and arms. Wear hats.  Scrubs also help but don't overdo... more

Here's a strategy that's worked for me and our patients to get a good self-tan:

Add 2 cups of Epsom salts into a bath and soak for 10-15 minutes (whole body if possible). Use a loofah,... more

Remember that SPF refers only to UVB protection and doesn't help you on UVA. And buying a sunscreen that says "broad spectrum" or "UVA Protection" won't necessarily protect you much. Some... more

Here are some of my favorite products.  Speaking as a mom myself, I think mothers are always happy to get some nice, higher quality skin care products for Mother's Day.  I have not included... more

Yes!  It can help fill in sparse brows.  Keep in mind it may also make the hairs grow longer so be prepared to have to trim more.  You don't need much product - a tiny drop brushed on will... more

Generally, if you're outdoors a lot in the summer, save your IPL (photorejuvenation) treatments for brown spots for Sept-May.

If you're doing it mostly for red areas, rosacea, or enlarged... more

Now! It often takes several months to see the full results, and you don't want to be dealing with the two weeks or so of bruising right when you want to be in shorts or a swimsuit.... more

  I've been hearing this question a lot lately. Botox and Dysport are almost the same. It's like comparing a Gala apple to a Fuji apple. They have slightly different properties but the... more

 Many of my patients, particularly those with oily skin, would like to shrink their large pores. Notwithstanding what you may have read elsewhere on the web, I'm sorry to say that there is... more

  Here's a tip on shaving for the man you love:

Use two different types or brands of shavers on alternate days.  For example, use a Fusion one day and a Mach 3 the next.  Each shaver has... more

In this 5th tip on mature skin and acne, I'll give you a quick overview on oral prescription solutions for mature acne. Because these are available only by prescription, you'll need to... more

Let's take non-prescription  topicals first.  Most of the non-prescription drugstore medications for acne are formulated for oily, teenage skin and tend to be too irritating or drying for... more

Now for prescription topicals! We did non-prescription topicals (creams & lotions) last week.

I still think the gold standard is Renova or the generic tretinoin. Renova is better, in my... more

Here is a good general rule when deciding on acne treatment options.

The more superficial the acne, the more likely topicals are to be effective. The deeper the acne (as in the small tender... more

With so many of us women in or approaching that menopausal, or maybe we should call it period-free (sounds much better, don't you think) demographic, a few words on this topic seems good.... more

  Are there side effects or complications with Sculptra?

Like most medical things, complications are rare if the procedure is performed skillfully. And you should read your consent forms... more

How do you figure out which is right for you, Sculptra or Juvederm/Restylane?   

Often if you are 35-50-ish and just have a few lines or creases around your mouth, 1-2 syringes of HA filler... more

  We are all concerned about how long things like Juvederm or Sculptra last. No one wants to be constantly having to come in for maintenance. And these treatments are expensive, so... more